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Roped into prayer? Local chaplain offended by Christian content at Wild West show

Local chaplain offended by Christian content at Wild West show

By Janessa Maxilom

jmaxilom@alamogordonews.com @janessa_speaks on Twitter

Posted:
08/24/2013 08:56:25 PM MDT

Trey Griffin displays the Christian flag during the Wild West show at the fairgrounds arena Aug. 14 during the annual Otero County Fair. (Bob Barber/For the Daily News)

A local chaplain was disturbed with a Wild West show that had religious content in it at the Otero County Fair.

On Aug. 14, Richard Frazier, the chaplain for the 108 American Legion, attended a Wild West show hosted by the Griffin brothers during the annual fair.

"We went to see what was advertised as a horse show, but turned into a proselytizing Christian religious event," Frazier said.

Frazier said he was offended that he paid money for a show and had to sit through what he considered "Christian propaganda." He said the show wasn't properly advertised as a Christian event to inform citizens of the dogma to which they would be exposed.

"Why wasn't the show billed as a Christian event?" Frazier asked.

According to Couy Griffin, an elder at the New Heart Cowboy church, his family hosted the show and began by riding in with flags to "represent the country" and his beliefs.

"I didn't advertise it as a Christian show, but I also didn't advertise it as a patriotic show, either," Griffin said. "We flew the flag for the United States of America, the New Mexico flag with the Zia symbol, the Christian flag, and the Prisoners of War and Missing in Action flag."

Griffin said he announced each flag and gave a brief speech about the meaning behind each one. After the flags were flown, Griffin said he started the event with a prayer.

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"I said a prayer, and I quoted John 14:6," Griffin said.

He said if people were offended with his prayer or the flag, they could have left the show and asked for a refund. He added that he would've happily given someone who was offended a refund.

"What I shared that night wasn't like a hate message or a radical fundamental message, it was just what the Bible says about the hope of Jesus Christ," Griffin said.

Griffin said it was his right as an American to fly the Christian flag and to say a prayer to Jesus at the beginning of the show.

"That's my right. Not only is it my God-given right, but it's also my right as an American," Griffin said. "I believe in freedom of religion. There have been a lot of brave men and women who have died standing up for our freedoms -- our freedom of religion and the freedom to express our faith."

Frazier said because the show was for the public, Griffin should have taken other theological views into consideration before saying a prayer directly to Jesus Christ.

"It's fine for him to say a prayer, but the god has to be generic," Frazier said. "There should be nothing about Muhammad, Jesus or Joseph Smith in a prayer during a public event.

"We are a country founded on religious freedom, and with that freedom comes responsibility," Frazier continued. "We have a responsibility to respect the fact that not everyone shares in the same religious belief, and we must be mindful not to impose our beliefs on others."

Frazier said he received the title of chaplain from the Marine Corps League. He said as a chaplain for military members he was taught to be sensitive and respectful to other religious beliefs. He added that military chaplains are educated to provide for the various religious needs of military service members.

"We have people in this country from all walks of life and all of them have different beliefs," Frazier said. "Not everyone prays to Jesus."

Fraizer said the event should have been properly advertised so people could make an informed decision on whether or not they wanted to attend an event where a specific religious belief would be demonstrated.

Frazier also said regardless of whether the flag was flown at the beginning, middle or end of the show, it was still advocating for the Christian religion and therefore, to him, the show was a Christian event.

"By flying the Christian flag during the event, the sponsors of the show were giving preference to one theological view," Frazier said.

According to Matt Nicks, vice chairman for the Otero County Fair Board, the event was not sponsored or endorsed by the board. Nicks said the Hitch-N-Post B.B.Q. Restaurant and the Copper Penny Ranch paid for the event.

Nicks said the arena was rented to Griffin during the show. He said Griffin had to provide his own liability insurance to rent the arena.

Cal McMatt, an Otero County Fair board member, said the board didn't know Griffin was going to fly the Christian flag or say a prayer during the event.

"I don't think (the topic) was ever discussed," McMatt said. "But to be clear, we aren't against him flying the flag or praying during the show. It's his right as an American."

Nicks explained that because the arena was rented and paid for by Griffin and sponsors, he had the right to pray and fly the flag during the show.

McMatt said he attended the event and estimated there were approximately 900 people at the show. He said he thought the show went well and people enjoyed themselves.

According to McMatt, when all four flags were flown at the show, the Christian flag received the loudest cheers.

"The applause and cheers were phenomenal," McMatt said.

McMatt and Nicks both said they didn't think people were offended during the show. Nicks said it was a shame one person is complaining about an otherwise nice event.

Nicks added that the board was only trying to provide quality entertainment for people and felt the show the Griffin Brothers staged was well received by the public.

Nicks said this was the first year the board rented the arena to Griffin and that the board would do it again.

"If it comes up again and we have the opportunity to do the show again, we will do it," Nicks said.

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